With this move, Electronic Arts looks to solidify an already large social and casual games development circle that started with the acquisition of Pogo.com and Playfish.  PopCap Games has been synonymous with quality from both the causal and hardcore gaming markets with multiple hits like Peggle, Bejeweled, Bookworm and many others.

There was some other interesting information that came out of the quarterly and end of year financial meeting by Electronic Arts, including the large growth experience by not only the premium DLC market, but their suprising outlook at the PC digital market in general, including the FIFA series and other franchises.  It seems that the idea to hatch the Origin service makes a lot more sense when you look at the revenue that EA is projecting for digital sales over the next few years.

While this is all about business, a quirky side note to this whole merger is that Jeff Green, former EA employee that left to move to PopCap after an unhappy stint at the company, is now back under the EA umbrella.  Funny how the world turns sometimes.

When I was booking E3 appointments this year, one of the big highlights on my schedule had to be Battlefield 3.  While we have seen trailer montages and footage from the game, this was going to be my first time with actual hands on time with the game and believe me; it was well worth the wait.  Sure, the game is visually stunning, but at the end of the day, Battlefield 3 is going to be judged on how well it plays, and I can happily say that from my time with it, fans will be pleased.

Unfortunately, my play had to wait for a few minutes, as Karl Magnus, the lead on Battlefield 3 wanted to give us the lowdown on the main changes for Battlefield 3 from the last entry into the Battlefield brand, Bad Company 2.  Sure, I love hearing about the great new tech that is being implemented in Battlefield 3, but there were eight PC kiosks surrounding the room, taunting us with our eventual gameplay, so you can understand my dismay.

That said, there were some big changes, and most are for the good.  First off was the consolidation of the classes, which may be hit or miss with some, but I felt that DICE had made some good choices with the classes for Battlefield 3.  When you go to select a class for multiplayer, you will choose from Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon. 

The Assault class will now be the main guy in charge of health packs instead of having a separate medic class.  This was mainly determined on the fact that the medic should be up front, but DICE felt that the medic was a not a good compliment for front line troops.  Now you will have a front line fighter that can also dole out health when necessary.  Engineers are relatively the same, but they are the one class that can fix up vehicles and get them back into running order, and they do get to carry heavy weapons, like anti-tank weapons.  Support will now be affected by the weight of the heavy guns that they are carrying, but they can attach a bi-pod to their weapon.  It limits the horizontal range of their weapon fire, but makes the weapon less of a spray and pray utility.  Support also will earn points for laying down suppressing fire with their heavy weapon.  All other classes can get points, but because of the sheer amount of ammo, the Support class will do much better with these points.  Finally, the Recon class will find that the barrel of their weapon has more sway when they aim, but they can hold their breath for a few seconds to steady the barrel, but at the cost of less accurate shots for a certain cool down period as the person catches their breath.

Most of the class changes and tweaks were brought about after monitoring game logs from multiplayer sessions in Battlefield Bad Company, as well as from forums and communities on the web.  The idea was that DICE wanted to perfect the balance of Battlefield 3’s online play to offer up a superior experience to the competition in the FPS online shooter field.

Weapon customization is back, and now vehicle customization is available as well.  With both of these, you will be able to build different weapon combinations that will give your guns and vehicles load outs that fit your gameplay style, as well as a visual flair that separates you from other players.  It is a small detail, but it plays out rather nicely.   Dog tags are also back, and now they are customizable as well, allowing players to put graphics and logos on them, along with text.  You can even have stats from Battlefield 3 imprinted on the dog tags, adding once again the customization features in Battlefield 3.  We saw a graphic that had at least eight different dog tag customizations and there is numerous more coming in the final product.

Of course at this point, you are probably saying, “That’s all nice and good, but what about the freaking gameplay!” to which I say okay, let’s talk the multiplayer experience.

Our mission started off in a park near the city of Paris, France.  You could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance along with the start of an urban landscape.  It was stunning how much detail was in this initial environment.  The game was moving super-fast, although this might have something to do with the uber-powerful rigs that they had us using for the demo.   But I digress, so let’s get back to the mission at hand.  Our squad of eight was tasked with advancing on two anti-aircraft guns and once we completed that, we would have to advance forward to three more stations, again taking out anti-aircraft guns, with the intent of clearing the air for attack from military bombers.

This mission was chosen, because it showed off the idea of how the landscape can change at a moment’s notice due to the mechanics of today’s urban landscape.  We started off in a park, for our first two AA guns, but our second advance had us running through landscapes with more buildings.  As we continued our assault, we even ended up moving through the Paris subway station, before we found the final two AA guns at the Paris Stock Exchange.

I tried out each class for a little bit of time, starting with the Assault class.  He was your standard Marine, carrying assault rifle (M4, I believe?), and I did take the opportunity to revive a couple of downed compatriots as I attacked.  At one point, I did go down, but I was not killed instantly, as I had the option of crawling while using my pistol to fend off enemies.  Since I did not have another assault class nearby, my last stand failed and I ended up dying.  The gun action was excellent, with practice being needed to make all of your shots count.

The Engineer class is normally not for me, as I am not real keen on heavy weapons, but the heavy weapons packed a wallop and delivered some wall destruction when it was needed.  It should also be noted that when I entered cover, the same destruction and breakdown for cover from Bad Company 2 exists in Battlefield 3 as well, which ended up providing me my downfall.

Hitting up the Recon class, I was a bit miffed at the accuracy change when I would line up my sight, but I slowly learned to compensate, and use the shift key for breath holding when necessary.  I pegged off a few head shots from a distance, and really felt like a true, stealthy delivery man of death with my rifle.  Of course, I did make the fatal mistake of out advancing my squad on the right flank and found myself running head first into a hornet’s nest of RPG wielding Russian troops.  It did not end well.

Finally I bounced into the Support class, and while I live and breathe Recon in Battlefield games, I had a genuine blast as the Support class. It did not require me to seek headshots, as I primarily would setup and lay down a volley of bullets as my team slowly advanced towards the main objective.  I felt that the Support class was designed around introducing someone to the franchise, as they did not have to be an accurate shot, instead only needing to lay down fire in a particular direction to help advance other players on the target.

It should be noted that there are huge improvements in the indoor sections of Battlefield 3, as the development team have spent a lot more time creating environments that are lit better, as well as just becoming a lot more fun to have firefights in.  DICE admitted that they were not very happy with the indoor environments of Bad Company 2, and they strived to fix it in Battlefield 3, and it seems to have been worth the dev time.  It also helps that the interior environments are a lot larger this time around as well, providing for some unique locations, like the subway line that we advance through on the way to the final AA placement.

When it was over, and we completed our objective, I found myself third in the rankings, which I was happy about, as I am woefully out of date on Battlefield Bad Company 2.  DICE seem to have invested a lot of sweat, blood and tears to make a stunning multiplayer experience, and I was floored at the results.  Battlefield 3 will be a visual orgy for the eyes, but the fact that it has the gameplay to back it up should make this game a no-brainer when it releases in fall of 2011.

Electronic Arts has rebranded its online store, and seems to be targeting other digital retailers like Steam and Direct 2 Drive and others with this new move.  The new client is called Origin (I wonder if this harkens back to Origin Games), and it is a fully featured client.  On top of selling you games, they are also integrating social features like Facebook connectivity, in game chat between games and special content for games tha are purchased through the Origin client.

In addition to adding this new client, EA also announced that Star Wars: The Old Republic would be available as a digital exclusive to the Origin client.  This is starting to make me wonder if I am going to lose out on content if I go with Steam over this new Origin client in regards to EA games.  It is nice that I can take my retail games and input the codes to add them to the Origin service, freeing me up from more discs that I have to pull out when I want to play an older title.

While the client is nice, and it looks like EA is trying to compete with the other big boys on the block, I am reserving judgement until I see a little more from the client, and the plans that EA has for it.  Hit the jump for a full presser on Origin.

EA Launches Origin New Direct-to-Consumer Platform Offers Anytime, Anywhere Access to Gaming’s Best Content Including Battlefield 3, FIFA 12 and More

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Electronic Arts (EA) Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today the launch of Origin™, EA’s direct-to-consumer gaming platform. Available today at www.origin.com, Origin is where gamers can go to find, purchase and download all the best content from EA. More than 150 games are currently available on Origin, and in the months ahead, Origin will be the place to purchase and download exclusive limited edition copies of highly-anticipated EA games, including Battlefield 3™ and FIFA 12, as well as content from EA Partners including Alice: Madness Returns™ and 38 Studios’ Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning™. Later this year, digital downloads of Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ will be available exclusively on Origin.Also launching today is the Origin beta application. Available for download at www.origin.com, the Origin beta is a desktop application that will be users’ direct connection to the best content from EA and offer the ability to create and manage a personal community of gamers. Through the Origin beta application, users will be able to find and connect with friends, see what they are playing, and digitally download and play PC games straight from EA.By visiting Origin.com today, users can set up an Origin profile, download the Origin beta application, and begin browsing titles available now or pre-order upcoming games. In addition, exclusive game content and trailers for upcoming EA titles will also be available on Origin, including Mass Effect™ 3, FIFA 12, SSX™, Madden NFL 12, Need for Speed™ The Run, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Sims™ 3 and Battlefield 3.”Origin is a game service with two fundamental features,” said David DeMartini, senior vice president of Global Online at EA. “It’s a download service for the very best content from EA and its partners. It also offers a social function which, over time, will connect a player’s profile with friends lists and a cross-platform feed that shows what your friends are playing and where.”"We’re committed to offering consumers direct access to great content and community in a way they have never experienced before,” said EA CEO John Riccitiello. “Today we’re launching Origin.com and the Origin beta application. Over time, Origin will grow with new functionality and unique new content that consumers can’t get anywhere else.”MobileOrigin will also be available to gamers on the go, with the service on mobile devices giving gamers access to an Origin mobile profile where they can connect and play with friends in EA’s leading smartphone titles, including SCRABBLE and the upcoming mobile version of Battlefield 3. In the future, mobile gamers will also be able to see what games their friends are playing, as well as compare high scores and share what’s fun.FeaturesOrigin will provide the easiest way to buy and play the best EA content while staying connected to friends. The Origin beta application will offer PC gamers:

• Digital Exclusives: The Origin beta application will deliver full digital downloads for new PC games including Battlefield 3 and Need For Speed The Run. Future additions will include access to the latest online betas as well as demos and try before you buy opportunities.
• Connect, Share and Play: through the Origin beta application, build friend lists, import contacts from Facebook and chat about your game experiences in the Origin community. Connect with friends, see who is online and what games they are playing. An in-game overlay integrates social and web-browsing features directly into gameplay, with future capabilities to include in-game downloadable content purchases.

The Origin.com website will provide:

• Persistent Profiles — Anytime, Anywhere: create an Origin profile to manage your favorite games and friend lists that are accessible from any PC.
• Fast and Easy Purchasing: central location for downloadable content for EA’s latest PC titles, with a streamlined purchasing and download process for games and pre-orders. The Origin.com store is also just one click away from a tab in the Origin beta application.

“This is our first step in the evolution of Origin, and in the weeks and months ahead we will look to enhance the features and services as well as an expanded range of content,” said DeMartini. “From exclusive demos to full-game downloads, Origin is the place consumers will go for the best game experiences.”During EA’s press conference next week at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, exclusive content for EA titles will be made available on the Origin.com website. EA’s E3 press conference is scheduled for 12:30PM PST on June 6, 2011, and a live webcast is available at www.ea.com/e3/press.For more information and assets including images, please visit http://info.ea.com.About Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company’s game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.In fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield, and Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.Origin, The Sims, SSX and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. Battlefield 3 is a trademark of EA Digital Illusions CE AB. STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks in the United States and/or in other countries of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © 2011 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Digging through the EA quaterly financials, one thing that sticks out is the fact that Mass Effect 3 is shown as launching in Q4 of fiscal year 2012 for Electronic Arts.  This basically translates into Q1 2012 on the standard calendar.

My first reaction was disappointment, as Mass Effect 3 was my fourth quarter game, and the only title I was looking forward to come Fall.  However, this new date probably works out better, and when you think about it, Mass Effect 2 hit the same window after a short delay and ended up becoming game of the year at a lot of sites. 

So, you will have to wait a little longer for Mass Effect 3, but the extra time can only help a game that is going to close out one of the best trilogies in gaming.

Electronic Arts has announced a new Need for Speed title that is set to arrive on November 15th, 2011.  Called Need for Speed: The Run, it looks to take more of a story driven focus, and leaves the ambiguous racing of the previous titles behind.

Judging from the trailer that we have below, it looks like it might be based on something similar to the famed Cannonball Run, except it will feature less Dom Deluise and Burt Reynolds and more of a serious tone, as we see tons of explosions and a possible near death sequence for our character in the game.

The trailer is focused around a lot of fast cuts and city titles like Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas and New York, which gives it that Cannonball Run vibe, but I am not sure if it is the best use of resources for Electronic Arts.  Hot Pursuit was a big seller for Electronic Arts, and some might be upset with a return to a game that is styled after such Need for Speed hits like Most Wanted and Undercover.  I am sure we will learn more as we get closer to the launch, but I am a bit skeptical on the title right now.

Need for Speed: The Run is set for release on Xbox 360, PC, PS3, Wii and 3DS platforms from Electronic Arts using the Frostbyte Engine developed by DICE.

Mark Ingram was at the top of the vote count of a poll that was hosted on the EA Sports Facebook page, where over 140K+ participated.  Mark Ingram beat out several other high profile college athletes like Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray and Washington quarterback, Jake Locker.

NCAA Football 12 continues the college football franchise that was started by EA Sports many years ago, adding in an upgraded Road to Glory mode, Dynasty Mode and more.

NCAA Football 12 is set to hit consoles on July 12th, 2011 from EA Sports.

This week in Rock Band DLC, we have a British rock group The Police, returning after an absense on the Rock Band DLC menu with two of their hits, “Every Breath You Take” and “So Lonely”.  Joining them are 1970 rock group War with their first US chart hit, “Spill the Wine”  Finally we have QK Go throwing in a single track for download with their hit, “Shooting the Moon”

For those that have thrown down for the Mustang Pro Guitar, or if you are rich, the Squier, you can add pro-guitar mode for “Every Breath You Take” this week for the DLC picks.

To read more about the DLC as well as pricing and other information, check out the presser below.

SINGLES FROM OK GO, WAR AND THE POLICE HIT ROCK BAND NEXT WEEK!

Cambridge, Mass. – March 10, 2011 – Harmonix today announced that singles from OK Go, War and The Police will be available beginning March 15 in the Rock Band 3 Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.

Rock Band provides the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums through the Rock Band music platform, which features more than 800 artists and more than 2,500* tracks via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/songs). Rock Band’s gigantic music library dwarfs that of any other rhythm video game on the market. More than 75 million songs have been sold through the Rock Band Music Store since its launch Nov. 20, 2007.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii

GRAMMY® Award-winning band OK Go – comprised of Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka and Andy Ross – formed in Chicago in 1998 and currently reside in Los Angeles, California. The band will add to their Rock Band catalog next week with “Shooting the Moon” from their latest album, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky (Deluxe Edition), which was released in 2010. For information on how to check out OK Go live, head to their tour date site, here: http://www.okgo.net/shows/.

Two songs from English rockers The Police will also be available next week – “Every Breath You Take,” the No. 1 single from the band’s 1983 album Synchronicity will be available, as well as “So Lonely,” from the band’s 1978 album, Outlandos D’Amour.

The 1970 single from classic rock band War, “Spill the Wine,” will also be available for Rock Band 3 next week. The song was War’s first chart hit, peaking at No. 3. To check out War tour dates, visit www.wartheband.com.

As always, songs available as downloadable content for Rock Band 3 feature five-button guitar and bass parts, drums, Pro Drums, and keys, Pro Keys and harmonies, where applicable. Some songs also feature Pro Guitar and Pro Bass upgrades available for an additional $0.99 upgrade download.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation®3 system (March 15):

OK Go – “Shooting the Moon”

The Police – “So Lonely”

The Police – “Every Breath You Take” X

War – “Spill the Wine”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation®3 system March 16)

These tracks will be available for purchase as individual tracks on Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii. Tracks marked with “X” will include Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song.

Price:

$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points) per song

$2.00USD (200 Wii Points™) per song

$0.99 USD (100 Wii Points/80 Microsoft Points), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

*Available on-disc, via download and disc export. Internet connection and export key purchase required. Wii has more than 1,500 song tracks available for purchase on the Rock Band platform on-disc, via song import, and download. Not applicable to Nintendo DS™.

Website Links:

For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website

OK Go Website

The Police Website

War Website

Rock Band 3 is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system, Wii and Nintendo DS. Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content.

Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Store using Wii Points™ purchased through the Wii™ Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the system memory or to an SD card for additional storage. The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library. The complete list of tracks can be found at www.rockband.com/songs.

Rock Band 3 is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 3 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

Every screen and trailer of the deliciously dark Alice: Madness Returns leaves me slightly giddy with anticipation, so when these gameplay videos hit, I was all over them like a fat kid on a doughnut.

With stunning aesthetics and a cute creepiness, these videos give an insight into how the game looks and performs, including a few examples of the game’s enemies and combat mechanics.

What do you think? Generic and predictable, or potentially a very interesting addition to your collection?

Alice: Madness Returns is published by EA and is scheduled for release on 14 June 2011 for the 360, PS3 and PC.

Source: TSA

The first in-game footage came out for Battlefield 3 today, and it was rather cryptic in its presentation.  Quickly cut and filled with static cuts, it looks as if it is trying to captur e the feel of the hectic situation of a Battlefield 3 game.  However, from the parts we could see, the Frostbite 2 engine is really helping this Battlefield shape up into a major contenter for the Fall 2011 release schedule.

Also, as with just about every game release on the calendar nowadays, there is a special pre-order package that you can get for Battlefield 3.  The Battlefield 3 Limited Edition will come with the “Back to Karkand” pack at no additional charge.  This new pack will add four maps from Battlefield 2, but upgraded with the new physics and destructability available with the Frostbite 2 engine, unlockable weapons and vehicles from Battlefield 2 as well as extra achievements and bonuses.

To check out the new video for Battlefield 3, follow the link below.  Battlefield 3 is coming to PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 this fall from DICE and Electronic Arts.

Battlefield 3 Wages War With Groundbreaking Frostbite 2 Game Engine Technology

DICE Announces Massive Pre-order Incentive for Fall Blockbuster

STOCKHOLM–(BUSINESS WIRE)– DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ:ERTS), the makers of the multi-platinum Battlefield: Bad Company™ series today announced a massive pre-order incentive for Battlefield 3™, the long-awaited successor to the epic, internationally acclaimed 2005 game, Battlefield 2™.

Battlefield 3 leaps ahead of its time with the power of Frostbite™ 2, DICE’s new cutting-edge game engine. This state-of-the-art technology is the foundation on which Battlefield 3 is built, delivering enhanced visual quality, a grand sense of scale, massive destruction, dynamic audio and character animation utilizing ANT technology from the latest EA SPORTS™ games.

The experience doesn’t stop with the engine — it just starts there. In single-player, multiplayer and co-op, Battlefield 3 is a near-future war game depicting international conflicts spanning land, sea and air. Players are dropped into the heart of the combat whether it occurs on dense city streets where they must fight in close quarters or in wide open rural locations that require long range tactics.

“We are gearing up for a fight and we’re here to win,” said Karl Magnus Troedsson, General Manager, DICE. “Where other shooters are treading water Battlefield 3 innovates. Frostbite 2 is a game-changer for shooter fans. We call it a next-generation engine for current-generation platforms.”

In Battlefield 3, players step into the role of the elite U.S. Marines. As the first boots on the ground, players will experience heart-pounding missions across diverse locations including Paris, Tehran and New York. As a U.S. Marine in the field, periods of tension and anticipation are punctuated by moments of complete chaos. As bullets whiz by, as walls crumble, as explosions force players to the ground, the battlefield feels more alive and interactive than ever before.

“We wanted to create the most immersive and emotionally powerful Battlefield game ever and we needed new technology to deliver on our vision,” said Patrick Bach, Executive Producer. “Battlefield 3 preserves the franchise’s signature sandbox style and even brings back classic fan favorites like jets, going prone and 64-player multiplayer on PC.”

Those anxious to start the fight can pre-order the Battlefield 3 Limited Edition now at www.battlefield.com. The Battlefield 3 Limited Edition includes Battlefield 3™: Back to Karkand at no extra charge.* This themed expansion pack features four legendary maps from Battlefield 2 boldly re-imagined with Frostbite 2 physics, destruction and visuals. Completing the package are classic Battlefield 2 weapons and vehicles, unique rewards, new achievements/trophies, and more.

Battlefield 3 will be available this Fall for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC. For more information on Battlefield 3 please visit www.battlefield.com, and for the latest news on Battlefield 3 follow us on Twitter: @battlefield.

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://eastore.ea.com/battlefield3 for details.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Battlefield: Bad Company, Battlefield 2, Battlefield 3 and Frostbite are trademarks of EA Digital Illusions CE AB. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Hopefully, there are people out there that are still dancing out like a fool with Dance Central, because you are going to get four new tracks that will allow you to shake what your mama gave you.  Okay, that sounded terrible as I read it in my mind, but you get the picture.  Starting Feb. 15th, 2011, you will be able to add these four tracks:

• Chic – “Freak Out”
• Missy Elliott – “We Run This”
• Rick James – “Superfreak”
• Amerie – “Heard ‘Em All”

Each of these tracks will set you back 240 Microsoft Loonies, and dance cards for all three difficulty levels.  Of course, you will require a full copy of Dance Central, as well as a Kinect device for your Xbox 360.  I shouldn’t have to add that, but there is always someone out there.

Full presser after the jump.

FREAK OUT! DANCE CENTRAL™ FEATURES NEW SONGS FROM MISSY ELLIOTT, RICK JAMES, AMERIE AND CHIC!

Dance Central Named Family Game of the Year at the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards!

Cambridge, Mass. – Feb. 14, 2011 – Harmonix today announced that songs from Missy Elliott, Rick James, Chic and Amerie will be available Feb. 15 for download on Xbox LIVE® for Dance Central™, the first controller-free, body-tracking, fully immersive dance video game, exclusively for Kinect™ for Xbox 360®.

The Academy of Arts and Sciences recently named Dance Central Family Game of the Year at the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards on Feb. 10. For a complete list of winners, please click here.

Free from any controller, Dance Central, a top selling game for Kinect for Xbox 360, features fun choreography and authentic routines for beginners and experts alike of all ages to master, alongside a killer 32-song on-disc soundtrack that spans a great sampling of pop, funk, hip-hop, Latin and R&B artists, including Cascada, Kool & The Gang, Kylie Minogue, Salt-N-Pepa, Nelly Furtado, Christina Milian and more. To view the full Dance Central set list plus add-on content already available, click here.

Dance Central’s downloadable content delivers fresh music and new choreography and routines on Easy, Medium and Hard difficulties in Break It Down, Perform It! and Dance Battle modes that will keep the dance floor rocking.

Dance Central DLC Additions for Xbox 360

The quintessential 1981 funk hit “Super Freak” from Rick James will hit Dance Central next week as downloadable content. The song is listed in Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

To keep up the freaky feel, 1978’s disco hit “Le Freak” from Chic will also be available next week. The song was ranked No. 19 on Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the First 50 Years of the Hot 100 Chart and achieved more than $4 million in sales.

Missy Elliott, the only female rapper to have six platinum albums, will make her debut for Dance Central tomorrow with “We Run This”. The song, from Missy’s 2005 album, The Cookbook, was released in 2006 and peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Two-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer Amerie will bring her hit, “Heard ‘Em All”, from her fourth album, In Love & War, to Dance Central next week as well.

Available on Xbox 360 (Feb. 15):

•Chic – “Le Freak”

•Missy Elliott – “We Run This”

•Rick James – “Super Freak”

•Amerie – “Heard ‘Em All”

Already available on Xbox 360:

•The Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”

•Blur – “Boys & Girls”

•Cameo – “Word Up!”

•Janet Jackson – “Control”

•Lady Sovereign – “I Got You Dancing”

•Ne-Yo – “Because of You”

•Rihanna – “Disturbia”

•Sean Paul – “Temperature”

•Tag Team – “Whoomp! (There It Is)”

Price: 240 Microsoft Points per song

** Dates for Dance Central game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

Website Links:

For more information, please visit:

Dance Central website

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Dance Central is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Dance Central, as well as new art and video assets, please visit http://www.dancecentral.com/press.

Follow Dance Central on Twitter (http://twitter.com/dance_central) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/dancecentralgame).

© 2011 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Dance Central and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. Dance Central developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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